Bearing



Patented Jan. 29,1946

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Franz R. Hensel, 12:23:12 122, Ind.,-assignor to P. R. Mallory & 00., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Delaware i No Drawing. Application August 6, 1943,

Serial No. 497,680

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to hearing compositions It is an object of the invention to. provide a set forth, the scope of the invention being indi cated in the appended claims.

,While a preferred embodiment of the invention isdescribed herein, it is contemplated that considerable variation may be made in the method of procedure and thecombination of elements,

without departing from the spirit of the invention.'

According to the present invention, an improved bearing composition is contemplated having the following ingredients present in the substantial range of proportions by weight, given below:

- Per cent by weight Gold 80 to 99 Thallium 1 to 40 Per cent by weight Gold 25 to 50 Silver 25 to 50 Thallium "1 to 40 A considerable amount of thallium can be taken up in solid solution in the silver, while gold and silver form an unbroken solid solution series. The resulting ternary alloy can be prepared by standard methods, such as casting, centrifugal casting, electroplating, sprayin dliiusion or any other means. In the preferred construction the bearing alloy is cast, plated or sprayed as a lining on a steel shell or half shells. Instead of steel it is possible to'use nickel or copper-alloy backing. It is contemplated for use was an internal combustion engine bearing as well as for other applications. In engines it will generally be operated against ferrous or iron group base alloys.-

It is possible to prepare bearings by plating a layer of gold onto a suitable backing, afterwards plating thallium onto the gold and then diiTus ing part or all of the thallium into the gold. It

is further possible to employ indium in combination with the thallium in order to form thallium indium alloys which have improved corrosion resistant properties. Other metals may be used for this purpose in the place of indium such as tin. The indium or tin may be plated onto the thallium and an alloy maybe formed by subjecting the plated layers to a low temperature diffusion treatment.

It is further possible to forms bearing by elec.. troplating silver onto a suitable backing, then plating a thin layer of gold thallium alloy onto the silver. The gold thallium alloy can either be plated in the form of an alloy or the elements may be separately plated and diffused either partly or wholly.

It is also possible to produce grid or mosaic bearings where the bearing base consists of such alloys and metals as silver, copper, aluminum into which grooves have been formed by rolling or similar means these grooves later on being filled with gold thallium alloys.

The fine microscopical distribution of thalli in gold in the form of eutectic particles provides excellent bearing qualities. The gold matrix or silver gold matrix has good thermal conductivity and good corrosion resistance. The extremely soft thallium particles form a film which is unusually seizure resistant even under heavy loads and high speeds.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it is intended to cover the invention broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bearing material formed of an alloy comprising 1 to 40% thallium by weight, balance gold.

2. A hearing material formed of an alloy comprising thalllum, and an element selected from the group consisting of indium and tin, with the balance gold.

3. A bearing material comprising an alloy of 1 to 40% thallium by weight, balance gold, said alloy being characterized by a line microscopical distribution-oi thallium in gold in the form of eutectic particles and said particles having a melting point of approximately 131' c.

4. A bearing lining Comprising an alloy Of Old and thallium containing 60-99% gold, 140% thallium by weight. said alloy being characterized by a fine microscopical distribution or thallium in gold in the form oi eutectic particles. and said particles having a melting point of approximately FRANZ R. HENBEL. 

